DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2215, 23 April 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

[l-'IiOM OUK OW.V CoIiUKSI’OXUKXT.] The only topic of conversation in town the last week, has been the trial of Butler, for tho Cumberland street murder. It is now a matter of history how that 27 citizens were summoned as jurors, that 12 were challenged by the prisoner, and two by tho prosecutiou, leaving but one outside the number required, and that the jury devoted themselves only and entirely to the case, from Thursday morning ti n . 8 o’clock on the Saturday evening, when they found the prisoner not guilty. Never has so much excitement been exhibited before. Long before the hour of the sitting of the court the door was thronged, and when it was opened comparitively few were able to find accommodation iuside the court. A crowd of one or two hundred men were all day hanging about the Government Buildings, whilst at evening when Butler was taken to the gaol the crowd must have numbered considerable over 1000. On the Saturday evening the excitement was most intense when it was known the Judge had summed up the case and tho jury laid retired, and the crowd held its position waiting for the verdict, regardless of the pangs of hunger. On the announce

ment of the result, the feelings of the crowd broke out in bootings and execrations, and when the prisoner entered the cab, he was received by such a chorus of hissing and other marked signs of popular feeling, as to make him feel thankful for the protection afforded by the police. These demonstrations were continued all the way to the gaol. Of course you have heard the nature of the j evidence given, and the main incidents I of the. trial. Mr Williams is not a “hanging Judge,” and the jury was a poor one for so important a case. Butler, as was anticipated, conducted Ids own defence, and managed to bring out Mr Mallard’s evidence in so unsatisfactory a light as to draw upon him the censure of the Judge. His address to the jury was a very masterly one, occupying live hours. Had he been a young barrister pleading bis first case his future success would have boon assured. Coolly sorting out his notes, he proceeded to dissect every scrap of the evidence produced, alluding to the Crown Prosecutor’s arguments as childish, throwing out the police evidence as contradictory—dealing out to Inspector Mallard a good measure of wrath and contempt—and holding up to ridicule the evidence of the doctors with regard to the blood spots. His whole line of defence has been very similar to that adopted by Captain Moonlite (Scott, the bushranger,) but unlike him he has so far managed to escape. To ensure sympathy he frequently asserted he was but a child in knowledge of the law compared to the Crown Prosecutor. Tliis, together with hisappeals to the jury, then occupying such a position of dreadful responsibility musthavcliad its effect. Public opinion has it that the jury should be hanged, but the twelve good men and true preferred to exorcise over caution, and based their verdict upon what they considered a lack of proof that the prisoner had been upon the premises where the murder was committed. The fact of the Judge summing up so much in the prisoner’s favor, and of his line of defence now being known, have decided the police to put him upon his trial for the murder of the woman. It is generally understood he will ask to have the case tried at Christchurch on account of public feeling. Of course it will bo acceded to, but the cost to the country of the carriage of witnesses and other necessary persons will make the case an expensive one. I know not whether our citizens look lightly upon crime, but it is a curious fact that the majority of the heavier charges here are concluded with the verdict" not guilty,” The charge against Mrs G. F. Reid for the death of her servant, of Proud foot, for alleged rape, Walter, for the Octagon lire, and now that against .Mitten for alleged embezzlement of the moneys of the Athemeum, have all been thrown out.

A rather unusual case came before the IBM. Court on Tuesday, when a missionary, attached to the Wesleyan Church at Upoho, sued the president of the district conference for arrears of salary. It transpired that with missions a nominal sum is promised, which will be given should the subscriptions, and other sources of revenue, be sufficiently productive. In the present instance, for some reason, either owing to a lack of ability to extract practical sympathy from his hearers, or to his congregation suffering too heavily from the bad times to let their charity extend further than home, thcreceipts wore about £GO short; and the magistrate, holding that the president not having personally given the appointment, was not responsible, gave a verdict for the defendant. But a month ago this gentleman renewed a parting gift of £3O, subscribed by the ladies of his flock, and presented to him at a service, but which lie was of opinion should not be deducted from the amount sued for. Another Wesleyan clergyman has been badly treated—the Few J. J. Lewis, recently removed from Mornington to Waimate. This rev. gentleman, since his appointment to Mornington, has worked with such

vigor, that a church was not only erected but had to be enlarged. Now, after working so well and so long, his flock allow him to leave the district with a considerable portion of his yearly stipend unpaid, and which, most probably, will remain so. Hut as a cloak covers a multitude of sins, they veil their shortcomings from the public eye by the presentation of a testimonial. I sincerely hope this popular clergyman will meet with a better return in his present sphere of labor.

The baths question lias cropped up once more. The exposure of the “ Industry " hulk has given our Councillors a dread of salt water, and as the result of some discussion at a meeting of the Council, a handy sight somewhere in the centre of tho town was advertised for, for the purpose of erecting fresh water baths. The “Times” insinuated that someone having a vacant plot unsaleable was using the Mayor to grind his axe, and at Monday’s meeting it was resolved not to open fresh tenders but to leave the matter just where it was. The old baths, at Poliehet Bay, have been well used during the past season, in spite of the mud and sewage, whilst at Moray Place the fresh water and Turkish baths formed by a company about il vc years ago —although fairly patronised —have never yet paid a dividend. Should the Council decide upon fresh water baths it would be far preferable to take over these baths at a valuation and improve them than to compete against them by erecting new buildings.

The annual meeting of Cnthrie and Larnach’s N.Z. Woodware Factory Co. (limited), did not do much to revive the

spirits of the stockholders. Although the statement showed 13 months work, a balance of but £6OOO was to the Company of profit and loss, which was stated by the Chairman to have been owing partly to the excessive depression in trade and partly to the previous heavy importations of stock, which, having to bo realised upon, wore put into the market at a cost much below what the Colonial made article could be produced for. It lias been decided that the agencies having proved a loss rather than a source of profit, will he discontinued with the exception of those at Tiinarn, Christchurch, and Invercargill. A number of shares during the last year had been sold in the London market at a premium of £l, but permission was given by the meeting to place shares upon the market at par.